Many women can be confused about what constitutes good vulvar hygiene; fortunately, vaginal health is much simpler than many may believe.
To keep your vulva clean, all it takes to keep it healthy is regular washings with warm water and regular soapings that claim to balance pH is regular washings with warm water.
How to Clean Your Vulva
At drug stores, feminine hygiene aisles are full of products promising to cleanse and soothe delicate vulvae. But for optimal results, wash with warm water instead of using soaps or shower gels which alter pH balance in your vulva and may lead to irritation of itchy genital areas.
Your vagina is a self-cleaning organ that depends on discharge and an optimal mix of bacteria for proper functioning. Washing too frequently may wash away these beneficial bacteria and allow “bad” bacteria to proliferate, leading to infections.
When washing, be gentle and use only mild, fragrance-free soap. Additionally, remember to wipe both your anus and vulva separately using separate sheets; using one piece of paper could contaminate the urethra and increase your risk of urinary tract infection. Douching, which disturbs natural balance among organisms can also contaminate it further. Be sure to visit your healthcare provider annually for wellness exams which should include both pap smears and pelvic exams.
Prevent Infections
Utilizing feminine hygiene products correctly is integral for maintaining good vaginal health. Misusing products may alter natural pH levels in the vaginal environment and introduce unfavorable bacteria into it that could lead to infections like yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis or vulvovaginitis.
Before the arrival of tampons and sanitary napkins, women resorted to using cloth pieces to absorb menstrual fluids during menstruation, washing and reusing them each month. Today, many women prefer using tampons and pads which help keep vulvae dry while providing relief from irritation as well as helping prevent infections by absorbing menstrual blood.
As these products may not suit everyone, including those with sensitive skin who might react adversely to plastic applicators or synthetic materials; others are concerned about their environmental impact or rare risk of toxic shock syndrome; this has spurred alternative feminine hygiene products like cloth napkins, menstrual cups and period underwear that provide more natural vaginal care options while being reusable and providing less irritating care routines for vaginal health care routines.
Prevent Cramps
Maintaining cleanliness in your genital area can help protect against cramps and rashes. Use plain soap or a warm washcloth to gently cleanse both inner thighs and outer vulva using plain water, without douching as this may disrupt its natural microbiome which provides immunity against infections.
Before the commercialization of sanitary napkins, women used pieces of cloth to absorb menstrual blood. Johnson & Johnson released its first disposable sanitary napkin for sale in 1896; however, its adoption wasn’t widely adopted until Kotex used synthetic cellucotton with gauze sheath developed as part of wartime medical dressings and generated significant demand.
Language used when discussing menstrual hygiene can either alienate people, or normalize and include their experiences. Supermarkets can alter product labels to more accurately represent menstrual products as “period products for every body”, including trans women and non-cis women in conversations regarding these products.
Keep Yourself Clean
Soaps and detergents used to wash the vulva can disrupt its natural pH balance, cause irritation, and potentially trigger or exacerbate vulvar dermatitis, so using feminine hygiene products designed specifically to meet its needs is key for healthy intimate care.
Cleanliness of the vaginal area is vital to sexual vitality, infection prevention and fertility support. Douching may cause yeast infections as well as damage the delicate microflora of your vulvar microbiome.
Women should visit their healthcare provider annually for a wellness check-up that includes a pap smear and pelvic exam to detect early signs of health issues like cervical cancer. Furthermore, it’s crucial that we address period equity by eliminating menstrual poverty – meaning the challenge low-income individuals with menstruation face accessing menstrual products and sanitation facilities at affordable costs; supporting period equity through supporting period equity by making these affordable products accessible, safe and safe as well as providing schools with female-friendly facilities while including period education curriculum will help empower women and girls to continue their studies more successfully.
